Philips BiPAP S/T Troubleshooting

The ventilator will show no signs that it is on.

Check that power cord connections are firmly in place and plugged into the unit and into the wall outlet.

Check that the wall outlet has power. Check the circuit breaker.

Replace fuse with correct ratings. Remove the fuse holder by pushing in on the small tabs and the sides of the holder. Pull the fuse holder completely out of the unit. Replace the old fuses with new fuses of the same type and rating. Insert the fuse gold back into the unit.

Inspect fuses yearly. Check for blackened areas on the glass. If the fuses appear blackened, or if the unit fails to run when the switch is on, change the fuses. Verify that the value of the fuse meets the specification.

Remove power cord from wall outlet and unit. With an ohmmeter, check between the top and bottom connections on each side of the switch. When the switch is “OFF,” the connections should be open. When the switch is “ON,” the connections should be closed.

Remove fuse drawer from AC inlet and inspect the drawer for damaged springs. Remove the fuse holder by pushing in on the small tabs and the sides of the holder. Pull the fuse holder completely out of the unit. Replace the old fuses with new fuses of the same type and rating. Insert the fuse gold back into the unit.

Verify proper settings of voltage selector switch on the back of the unit. If the unit is set at 230 V but plugged into a 115 V line, the unit will not operate. If the unit is set at 115 V but plugged into a 230 V line, the unit may operate intermittently.

Check that terminal is oriented properly and securely fastened to board pins.

Perform transformer check. Turn the unit off, disconnect the power cord from the wall and the unit, remove the AC inlet fuses. Remove the fuse holder by pushing in on the small tabs and the sides of the holder. Pull the fuse holder completely out of the unit. Replace the old fuses with new fuses of the same type and rating. Insert the fuse gold back into the unit. Remove the wraparound. Connect an ohmmeter across transformer terminals T5 and T6. The resistance should be 10.6 ohms +/- 10% when the voltage selector switch is set to 230 V, and should be approximately 5.3 ohms +/- 10 % when the voltage selector switch is set to 115 V. Repeat the previous step with the ohmmeter across transformer terminals T1 and T2.

Check power switch wiring; turn into off, disconnect power cord from wall and unit, remove wraparound. Check continuity of wires from switch to primary side of transformer. Top white wire on switch is connected to transformer terminal T3, and top red wire on switch is connected to transformer terminal T4.

Turn the unit off, disconnect the power cord fro the wall and the unit, and remove the wraparound. Check the continuity of the wires from the switch to the primary side of the transformer. The top white wire on the switch is connected to the transformer terminal T3. The trop red wire on the switch is connected to the transformer terminal.

The Unit does cannot preform operation for longer than a few seconds.

Check that power cord connections are firmly in place with the unit and the wall.

Replace Blower assembly. Remove the wraparound. With a torque screwdriver, remove the four Phillips head screws holding the two end caps cross bars to the front and rear end caps. Rotate the cross bars slightly and lift them up and out of the unit. Disconnect the flow pick up tubes from the top of the blower assembly. Turn the unit upside down. Disconnect the blower wire plug from the MCB. The plug is a white * pin connector. With a slotted screwdriver, open the wire retaining clip on the bottom of the blower cover and remove the wires from the clip. Remove the tube clamp on the blower inlet port and discard the clamp. Carefully slide the bellows away from the blower inlet port. Remove the four remaining Phillips screws that attach the from end cap to the chassis. Turn the unit right side up. Remove the tube clamp on the blower exit port and discard the clamp. Slide the flexible connector off of the exit port. Open the wire retaining clips on the outside of the blower housing, remove the wire bundles from the clip, and move the wires away from the blower housing. Place the unit on its side with the transducer side of the blower facing up. Move the end cap out of the way. Using a torque not driver set to 10 in-lb, remove the four nuts holding the blower assembly to the rubber shock mounts. Slowly pull the transducer side of the blower assembly. Cut and discard the tie wraps being careful not to cut the bellows. Remove the blower assembly fro the BiPAP chassis. Remove the protective tape cover from the wire retaining clip in the replacement kit. Secure the clip on the blower cover bottom in approximately the same position and orientation as the original blower assembly.

Verify the proper settings of the voltage selector switch on the back of the unit. If the unit is set to 230 V but plugged into a 115 V line, the unit will not operate. If the unit is set at 115 V but plugged into a 230 V line, the unit may operate intermittently.

Flow or pressure is much lower than assumed output.

Turn the unit off, disconnect the power cord from the wall and the unit, and remove the wrap-around. Check the integrity and orientation of the J1 connector on the BCB. Connect a DC voltmeter form J1-1 (ground) to J1-2. Reconnect the power cord and turn the unit on.

Turn off unit, disconnect power cord from wall. Reconnect the power cord from the wall, monitor the pressure at the outlet with a manometer. Turn the unit on and hold the valve shut, If the outlet pressure is not steady, replace the blower assembly.

Replace the intake filter. Turn the unit OFF and unplug the electrical cord from the wall outlet and from the back of the unit. Press down and pull out on the top of the Whisper Cap. You need to press down only 1/8” to allow the top lip of the Whisper Cap to clear the filter retainer. Pull up on the bottom of the Whisper Cap unit the bottom lip clears the filter retainer. Locate the bottom in the center of the filter holder beneath the surface pf the filter. Push in on the button and pull the filter out from all four sides of the filter holder. Throw away the dirty filter. The filter is not washable. Center the new filter over the filter holder. Carefully push in on the center button and tuck the filter in on all four sides. Release the button. The filter should be intact and fit securely, covering the entire holder. Remove and readjust the filter if necessary. Insert the bottom lip of the Whisper cap behind the inner bottom edge of the filter retainer. Simultaneously press down on the top of the Whisper Cap and push in until the top lip of the Whisper Cap snaps into place behind the inner top edge of the filter retainer. The filter should be in place at all times when the unit is being used.

Turn unit off, and disconnect the power from the wall and the unit and remove the wraparound. Check the integrity and orientation of the J1 connector on the Bipap BCB Connect a DC voltmeter from J1-1 (ground) to J1-2. Reconnect the power cord and turn the unit on.

Pressure is inconsistent and fluctuates out of factory specifications.

Perform motor control board checks. Turn the unit off, disconnect the power cord fro the wall and the unit, and remove the wraparound. Connect a DC voltmeter negative lead to J2 pin 6. Connect the positive lead to J2 pin 5. Reconnect the power cord and turn the unit on. The voltmeter should read +14 to +18 VDC. Connect voltmeter negative lead to J2 pin 6. Connect positive lead to J2 pin 7. The voltage should be -14 to 18 VDC.

Perform blower pressure check. Turn the unit off, disconnect the power cord from the wall and the unit, and remove the wraparound. Reconnect the power cord to the unit and the wall. Monitor the pressure at the outlet with a manometer. Turn the unit on and hold the valve shut. If the outlet pressure is not steady, replace the blower assembly.

Turn the unit off, disconnect the power cord from the wall and the unit, and remove the wraparound. Reconnect the power cord to the unit and the wall. Monitor the pressure at the outlet with a manometer. Turn the unit on and hold the valve shut. If the outlet pressure is not steady, replace the blower assembly.

The displayed flow & pressure are not true to actual reading

Perform the calibration without making any adjustments to the trim pots on the motor control board and record the data. Compare the test data with the specifications; if the unit does not meet the specs, perform the full calibration and readjust the trimpots where needed If the unit fails, then replace the part indicated by the test.

Visually inspect the flex connector, bellows, and the pressure timing for cracks or splits. Inspect the hose clamps and nylon tie wraps. Inspect the bellows or tubing under the clamps. Check that all fittings are tight and that the mask is not leaking.

The unit is loud and has a grinding like noise.

Install filter. Center the filter over the filter holder. Carefully push in on the center button and tuck the filter in on all four sides. Release the button. The filter should be intact and fit securely, covering the entire holder. Remove and readjust the filter if necessary. Insert the bottom lip of the Whisper cap behind the inner bottom edge of the filter retainer. Simultaneously press down on the top of the Whisper Cap and push in until the top lip of the Whisper Cap snaps into place behind the inner top edge of the filter retainer. The filter should be in place at all times when the unit is being used.

Move wiring assembly away from blower assembly.

Perform Calibration and Calibration checks without making any adjustments to the trimpots; record the data. Compare the test data with the specifications. If the unit does not meet the specs, perform the System Set-up and the Final Test and readjust the motor speed as needed.

Replace Blower assembly. Remove the wraparound. With a torque screwdriver, remove the four Phillips head screws holding the two end caps cross bars to the front and rear end caps. Rotate the cross bars slightly and lift them up and out of the unit. Disconnect the flow pick up tubes from the top of the blower assembly. Turn the unit upside down. Disconnect the blower wire plug from the MCB. The plug is a white * pin connector. With a slotted screwdriver, open the wire retaining clip on the bottom of the blower cover and remove the wires from the clip. Remove the tube clamp on the blower inlet port and discard the clamp. Carefully slide the bellows away from the blower inlet port. Remove the four remaining Phillips screws that attach the from end cap to the chassis. Turn the unit right side up. Remove the tube clamp on the blower exit port and discard the clamp. Slide the flexible connector off of the exit port. Open the wire retaining clips on the outside of the blower housing, remove the wire bundles from the clip, and move the wires away from the blower housing. Place the unit on its side with the transducer side of the blower facing up. Move the end cap out of the way. Using a torque not driver set to 10 in-lb, remove the four nuts holding the blower assembly to the rubber shock mounts. Slowly pull the transducer side of the blower assembly. Cut and discard the tie wraps being careful not to cut the bellows. Remove the blower assembly fro the BiPAP chassis. Remove the protective tape cover from the wire retaining clip in the replacement kit. Secure the clip on the blower cover bottom in approximately the same position and orientation as the original blower assembly.